Presented at a side-event at the Rio+20 summit last month (22 June), Pakistan’s new national sustainable development strategy (NSDS) proposes to set up a knowledge management system based on science, technology and innovation.
The strategy is expected to help steer the country – hit by a string of natural disasters that includes two devastating floods, three cyclones and an earthquake since 1999 – towards sustainable economic growth.
High population growth, rapid urbanisation, weak enforcement of environment regulations, and rising numbers of internally displaced persons are among other challenges.
The estimated cost of Adaptation to future climate impacts is US$14 billion each year for the next 40 years, according to the NSDS document.
"Collectively leveraging knowledge and innovation would certainly deliver results for future sustainability," the strategy paper says.
"There is an inescapable linkage between climate impacts and sustaining future development in the country," the strategy document notes.